Out of curiosity, did the blacks have to live in fear of the Klan or random racists attacking them? I grew up in the northeast, same time frame and remember discrimination. But don't recall race-based attacks on blacks.
The blacks had to live in fear of Department of Public Safety Commissioner “Bull” Connor’s policemen, all of whom (I’ve been told) were at least 6 feet tall and sturdily built.
He kept order in that city.
BTW, Bull was a Democrat.
P.S. During his tenure, one could go to downtown Birmingham in the wee hours of the morning and not have to worry about his or her safety.